The Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) has denounced as false and misleading a recent video shared by ISWAP/Boko Haram on TikTok, claiming to provide protection to communities in the Lake Chad region. The footage, posted on the account “ibn Abubakar Albanarwy” (Albanarwy 1446), portrays members of the terrorist groups interacting with farmers, herders, and fishermen, attempting to foster an image of harmony and security.

The MNJTF has labeled the video a manipulation intended to distort public perception, accusing ISWAP/Boko Haram of hiding their history of violence against local populations. “Contrary to this portrayal of ‘peaceful coexistence,’ ISWAP/Boko Haram has inflicted severe suffering on these communities through forced displacements, killings, kidnappings, and restrictions on local economies,” stated MNJTF spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Olaniyi Osoba.

The MNJTF emphasized its ongoing operations to stabilize the region, recently achieving milestones including the return of over 30,000 displaced persons to communities such as Kirawa, Baga, and Banki. Recent regional collaborations have enabled the reopening of key commercial routes, boosting trade and movement across N’Djamena, Kousseri, Gamboru, and Maiduguri.

Additionally, in the recently concluded Operation LAKE SANITY 2, MNJTF forces successfully neutralized numerous Boko Haram combatants, rescued hostages, and seized weapons. The MNJTF’s commitment to peace and security across Nigeria, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon remains unwavering, the statement emphasized.

The MNJTF has also called on TikTok and other social media platforms to monitor and remove content that spreads misinformation and promotes violence, ensuring platforms are not used for radicalization efforts.